Rob Van Dam was insulted when he was made WWE Hardcore Champion
Rob Van Dam, a name synonymous with the extreme and violent action that characterized the ECW in the ’90s, recently opened up about his feelings regarding the WWE Hardcore Championship. His sentiments stem from what he believes was WWE’s mockery of a superior art form that he helped pioneer. “I felt like they were making fun of us in ECW,” Van Dam said on the latest “One of A Kind” podcast. This opinion sheds light on a significant era of wrestling history and how the star viewed WWE’s attempts to replicate what ECW had created. The Degradation of the Hardcore Match Van Dam’s disdain is rooted in the difference in philosophy between ECW and WWE. In his view, ECW made wrestling cool to even those who weren’t wrestling fans. The high-impact, violent nature of ECW was copied by both WWE and WCW, but according to Van Dam, it was often done poorly. The Hardcore title matches on “Monday Night Raw,” seemed like a joke to Van Dam, diminishing the essence of what a Hardcore match meant to him. “RIP Crash Holly but it pretty much meant the hot dog stand was gonna get tipped over … the Hardcore match was something to laugh at,” he remarked. Making the Hardcore Title Mean Something Moreover, despite his initial contempt for the title, Van Dam was determined to elevate the status of the Hardcore Championship once it was thrust upon him. His hard work and dedication paid off, as he was able to redefine what the title meant within the WWE universe. His success in making the title significant led to its eventual unification with the Intercontinental Championship, retiring the belt in 2002. RVD’s Continued Connection to His Extreme Roots Van Dam’s extreme past is far from forgotten. His recent appearance on “AEW Dynamite,” where he challenged “Jungle” Jack Perry for his FTW Championship—a title that originated in ECW—shows that his commitment to the hardcore style is still strong. His debut in AEW came at the behest of his ECW friend and rival Jerry Lynn, further cementing the connection between his storied past and current ambitions. Fans eagerly await next week’s edition of “Dynamite” to see this exciting match. Rob Van Dam’s candid thoughts on WWE’s Hardcore title provide a fascinating insight into the mind of a wrestler who helped define an era. Also, his dedication to the art form, his struggle to make the Hardcore Championship meaningful, and his continued involvement in extreme wrestling paint the picture of a man committed to his craft. Lastly, with Van Dam still active and embracing his roots, fans can only hope that his influence continues to shape the industry, preserving the spirit of hardcore wrestling that he holds so dear. His legacy in ECW and efforts in WWE will remain a significant chapter in the annals of professional wrestling.
Rob Van Dam and Paul Heyman tried to convince Vince McMahon to hire Jerry Lynn in WWE
Rob Van Dam recently shared some insights into his efforts to persuade Vince McMahon to hire Jerry Lynn for WWE back in the summer of 2001. Jerry Lynn’s journey in WWE During this time, Lynn had a brief tenure as the WWE Light Heavyweight Champion, winning the title by defeating Crash Holly in his debut. While the Light Heavyweight Championship was mostly featured on WWE’s undercard shows, Lynn did get an opportunity to display his skills in a memorable televised match against his old ECW rival, Rob Van Dam, for the Hardcore Championship. RVD Details about Jerry Lynn’s Departure from the company Speaking on “One of a Kind,” RVD revealed that both he and Paul Heyman made earnest attempts to convince Vince McMahon to give Lynn a chance on WWE’s main programs. However, Van Dam couldn’t recall the specifics of the conversation with Vince but emphasized the chemistry they had in their match. He mentioned that much of the communication was through Paul Heyman, who updated him on the situation. According to Heyman, Vince didn’t see anything extraordinary in Jerry Lynn and wasn’t interested in giving him a more significant opportunity. Jerry Lynn’s exit from WWE & his stints in different companies Despite the match with RVD being highly regarded but only lasting less than seven minutes, it didn’t secure Jerry Lynn a full-time position with WWE. Unfortunately, Lynn’s journey with the company came to an end in February 2002 due to a knee injury, and he never had the chance to make a notable impact on WWE’s flagship TV shows. Following his WWE departure, Jerry Lynn continued to wrestle for other promotions such as TNA and ROH. Concluding Thoughts In summary, Rob Van Dam and Paul Heyman made a sincere effort to advocate for Jerry Lynn’s WWE career, but despite their best efforts, Lynn’s stint with the company didn’t flourish as they had hoped as Vince was not a big fan of him & in WWE if you can’t impress the boss you can’t be the star at all.
Rob Van Dam Ponders Over Professional Wrestling Retirement
In a candid chat on the “1 Of A Kind” podcast, the legendary professional wrestler Rob Van Dam expressed his contemplation about retirement from the WWE. Recollecting when he assumed his retirement was imminent, he remarked: “I used to think I was gonna retire a few years ago. I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into it, I just kind of figured I was semi-retired.” Rob Van Dam seems to be treading the path of iconic Dory Funk Jr., who never formally retired from professional wrestling. He adds: “But now I don’t think I ever will. I mean, why bother? I’ll just probably do like Dory Funk Jr. and just ever not retire.” Authenticity above All: Van Dam’s Views on Comeback Culture Van Dam, renowned for his authenticity and honesty, spoke about how he dislikes the idea of coming back to the ring after retirement, a trend prevalent among many professional wrestlers. “As much as I pride myself on being genuine and honest, and I like to set an example by the way I live,” Van Dam said. “I wouldn’t wanna retire and then come back two years later and wrestle again like everybody does.” Yet, he admits he isn’t sure how he’d feel post-retirement, given his enduring involvement in the wrestling business. The multi-talented wrestler doesn’t perceive retirement as easy and questions whether he would miss it. RVD’s most recent match occurred on April 29 against Channing Decker at International Wrestling Cartel’s Superstar Showdown IV event, as recorded by Cagematch. A Legacy in the Making As one of professional wrestling’s most dynamic performers, Rob Van Dam’s contemplations about retirement have stirred up the wrestling community. His remarks offer insight into many athletes’ grueling decision-making process when considering their twilight years. Whether he retires or continues, RVD’s legacy in professional wrestling is secured, influencing future generations.
